Lincoln Manufacturing is riding the oil-and-gas boom, like many businesses in Tuscarawas County and the area. In the past year, the Strasburg business expanded from a S. Wooster Avenue building into a new, larger facility on 137 acres it purchased off Strasburg-Bolivar Road NW in January 2011.

Residents near the new facility say they are feeling the boom, too — literally.

“There’s nights it sounds like thunder,” said Brenda Rings, who lives on Lincoln Drive NE across the railroad tracks from Lincoln’s new facility. “It wakes me up.”

Rings isn’t alone. Several residents have filed written and verbal complaints about operations at Lincoln Manufacturing with Strasburg Village Council, citing “distress created by the noise and views.”

Shelley Armstrong purchased her duplex at 851 Lincoln Drive in 2005. She says her sleep is constantly interrupted, and worries about her property value dropping.

Reaching for a cluster of digital recorders, Armstrong played for a reporter several tracks taken from inside her home. Nearly every track began with loud clanging, shrill noises including pipes dropping, and workers yelling.

“It’s ridiculous. Sometimes I start in my bed and end up in here,” Armstrong said pointing to her closet. “It’s the one place I found that would sort of muffle the sound.”

Armstrong said the constant noise affects her ability to function at work. She is an occupational therapist for the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

In February, Armstrong and 22 of her neighbors from Lincoln Drive, 7th Street and Zeltman Avenue sent a petition to council, requesting a reprieve from the noise at night and a barrier to shield them from the sight and sounds of the operations.

Lincoln Manufacturing builds oil-field couplings and fittings for oil and gas exploration. It said in January 2011 that it was hoping to add 15 workers to its 60-person workforce as part of its move to the new facility.

A company spokesman did not return two calls seeking comment.

Armstrong and several other residents said conditions haven’t improved very much since February. “I still can’t sleep all night every night in my bed like I should,” she said.

Her neighbor, Kathy Lorenz, feels the same way. Lorenz owns the duplex at 848 A and B. She’s happy to see oil and gas jobs come to the area “but not at the expense of losing sleep, losing our property values.”

In several of her meetings with council, Lorenz brought a copy of the Strasburg’s zoning ordinance. While the industrial park is zoned for industrial and manufacturing business, Lorenz pointed to the ordinance citations for protecting nearby residents.

Under Section 800.1 c, the ordinance says “No activity shall emit noise or vibration which is objectionable because of intermittence, beat frequency or shrillness. Noise or vibration may equal but shall not exceed average street traffic noise. Noise or vibration resulting from temporary construction activity that occurs between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.”

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Section 805.2 says that the planning commission was to minimize safety, traffic and environmental impacts as much as possible and that landscaping should be used to screen unsightly activities from public view and provide aesthetically pleasing landscaping design.

“It’s unfortunate whenever growth comes into a community it’s going to affect somebody one way or the other,” said Strasburg Mayor John Bitikofer.

Bitikofer said he’s not aware of an investigation specific to the complaints, but said the Strasburg police department has recorded sound levels in the last few months. He also said the railroad and right-of-way issues had to be considered in dealing with the residents’ problem.

“Steps are being taken to get all parties together and have a discussion,” he said, deferring comment to village counsel, Richard Fox.

Dan Wallick, village zoning inspector, also deferred comment to Fox.

Neither Fox nor the mayor were clear if there was a permit provided to Lincoln Manufacturing for 24-hour operation.

Fox said he couldn’t offer much comment as other attorneys are involved. “We continue to be committed to working with Lincoln Manufacturing and the residents to make sure the ordinances of the village are enforced in a fair manner.”

While attorneys look to address the issues, Lorenz and other residents want action.

“There needs to be a barrier,” she said, saying a barrier could be put in place to avoid ugly sites and sounds. She’s also concerned about property values.

“This was my retirement,” Lorenz said. “It’s ruined.”

Rings, a tenant of Lorenz, said the noise doesn’t help her recovery from a recent stroke and seizure. She said her neighbors have been helpful, which is one of the few reasons she stays.

“I like Kathy. She’s a good woman. If it weren’t for her, I’d leave,” Rings said.

Most of the residents on Lincoln Drive are renters and some have moved already, and others may consider a move once their lease is finished.

That includes Sandy Williams and her husband Steve, who rent the duplex at 846B Lincoln.

“We’re considering moving because of the noise,” she said.

“My son doesn’t get sleep and he has to go to school,” Williams said of Travis Miller, 13.

Devlin Mitchell, of 138 7th St., said he’s glad to see jobs and growth, but doesn’t understand why there needs to be so much noise in the evenings.

“They need to have consideration for people who live around here and some respect,” Mitchell said.

His neighbor, Becky Sibila, at 132 7th St., feels the same. “We just close our windows and hope for the best.”

She’s not happy with the view, either. At one point, the mayor mentioned that property values may go up as a result of the industry. Pointing to the pipes piled up across the railroad track, Sibila said, “I don’t see how that can happen.”

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Lorenz said she works in the oil and gas industry and wants to encourage growth. “I’m really glad they’re here,” she said.

Like other vendors in the park, Lorenz reiterated a need for a barrier.

“We’re not asking for them to close down and go away. We’re asking for protection from sight and sound,” she said.